Why Are the Thresholds of Temples So High? It's Not to Keep Out Ghosts, but Related to Architecture

When entering traditional Taiwanese temples, many people notice the high thresholds at the entrance. This horizontal wooden or stone component at the bottom of the door frame seems inconvenient and can easily trip up the elderly or children. Why do temples still retain these thresholds? Some say they keep out ghosts; others believe they symbolize the shoulders of the gods and that stepping on them is disrespectful. In reality, thresholds were originally part of traditional door frames and later acquired cultural significance in distinguishing between inside and outside, maintaining order, and expressing respect.

Why Are the Thresholds of Temples So High? They Were Originally Part of the Door Frame According to the Ministry of Education's "Revised Compilation of the National Language Dictionary," a "threshold" is a horizontal wooden beam set at the bottom of a door, also known as a door sill or door limit. The "Simplified National Language Dictionary" defines it as a horizontal wooden beam at the bottom of a door frame, close to the ground. The traditional architecture teaching materials of Professor Yang Yu-Fu from Yunlin University of Science and Technology also point out that the vertical components of traditional wooden door frames are called "hugging frames," while the horizontal components at the bottom of the door leaves are called "lower thresholds" or "thresholds." In other words, thresholds are not additional decorations added to create taboos but are part of the traditional door structure. Architectural scholar Li Qianlang, in the National Cultural Memory Bank's materials, explains that Taiwanese craftsmen call the base stones at the bottom of door pillars "door boxes," while in the north they are called "door pillow stones," and the Song Dynasty's "Yingzao Fashi" calls them "door anvils." These components strengthen the door frame and are commonly seen at the entrances of temple three-gate halls or traditional residences. Therefore, the retention of prominent thresholds at temple entrances is primarily related to the traditional door frame and the heavy wooden doors. As for the actual height of the thresholds, it may be influenced by the construction period, terrain, door leaf form, and subsequent repairs, and not every temple has the same reason for having high thresholds.

Thresholds in Ancient Times Were the "Boundary Between Inside and Outside" In addition to being a structural component, thresholds also have the meaning of dividing space. The Ministry of Education's "Revised Compilation of the National Language Dictionary" explains "door limit" by quoting the relevant annotations of "Er Ya·Shi Gong," describing the horizontal wood at the bottom of the door as the "boundary between inside and outside," that is, the dividing line between the interior and exterior. In the context of temples, this boundary is often interpreted as the dividing line between everyday space and sacred space. Before crossing the temple gate, a person is still standing in a general public space; after crossing the threshold, they enter a place for worshiping gods and making offerings. Since crossing the threshold requires lifting one's foot and slowing down, from a cultural perspective, it can also be understood as a reminder before entering a sacred place, prompting worshippers to restrain their movements and maintain reverence.

Why Can't You Step on the Threshold? Ancient Etiquette Already Existed "Don't step on the threshold" is not a saying that appeared only in modern times. The Taipei Confucius Temple Management Committee's collection of "Lunyu·Xiangdang" records that when Confucius entered the gates of a ruler's palace, he would "stand not in the middle of the gate, walk not on the threshold." The "threshold" here means not standing in the middle of the gate and not stepping on the threshold when walking. This passage describes the etiquette for entering a palace gate, reflecting how ancient people expressed respect for the host, the place, and the order of status through their actions. Nowadays, the habit of not stepping on the threshold is often seen in ancestral halls, residences, and temples and is considered a sign of respect for the place and the gods. The Talent Taiwan website, operated by the National Development Council, also reminds people not to step directly on the threshold when entering and exiting temple gates, as it is considered disrespectful to the gods in folklore.

Is the Threshold Really the Shoulder of the Gods? There is a common saying that the thresholds of temples symbolize the shoulders, forehead, or body of the gods, so they should not be stepped on; another saying is that thresholds have the function of blocking evil spirits. However, these contents are mainly long-standing folk explanations, and there is currently a lack of reliable literature to prove that they are the original purpose of the thresholds. From the explanations in the Ministry of Education's dictionaries, traditional architecture teaching materials, and the records of "Lunyu," what can be relatively confirmed is that thresholds were originally part of the door frame structure and also represented the boundary between inner and outer spaces; the habit of not stepping on thresholds can be clearly found in the etiquette of entering palace gates in ancient times. Therefore, "the shoulder of the gods" or "blocking evil spirits" is more appropriate to be regarded as a later folk explanation rather than the original reason for the design of the thresholds.

How to Step Over the Threshold When Entering a Temple When entering a traditional temple, the more appropriate way is to lift your foot and step over the threshold, not stepping directly on it or sitting on it to rest. Some traditional temples have three entrances. According to the introduction of temple etiquette on Talent Taiwan, according to folk customs, the central door is often regarded as the door for the gods to enter and exit, and general worshippers usually pass through the side doors. The next time you enter a temple, when you see the high threshold at the entrance, don't just consider it a wooden beam that obstructs passage.